Being a successful female entrepreneur is a common dream, but the route to reach this goal is usually stressful and overwhelming. Before launching their business, women tend to gather tons of information about marketing, sales, and customer service, but often forget to learn how to handle stress. This is why we asked five successful female entrepreneurs about their secrets to taking care of mental health and avoiding burnout.
1. Take time off
-Jackie Bruno
According to Jackie Bruno, Founder and CEO of Newsmaker Marketing and The Connect-Her, taking time off is necessary for both your mental health and entrepreneurial success. It was, in fact, during the three months she took off work after leaving tv news, that this three-time Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist came up with the idea of launching her business.
“Taking time off can be a game-changer for your mental health,” said Bruno. “I try to remind myself that it’s okay to shut it down for the night when I’m no longer productive. It’s okay to take time to enjoy the benefits of entrepreneurship, which is a more flexible schedule. I try to work hard and play hard and that helps me stay balanced and happy.”
2. Learn to delegate
-Natalia Levey
Another fundamental skill to avoid burnout is to learn how to delegate.
“It might be really scary to start delegating, but sharing responsibilities will help you gain momentum,” said Natalia Levey, Founder and partner at Hi Hospitality Group, a multi-concept restaurant group.
Levey has come up with a process that helps people learn how to delegate. Her method consists of writing down all the tasks you usually take care of and then evaluating whether they bring joy to your life, how much time and mental effort they require, and if they are worth your time.
“The end result should get you to a clearer picture that will help you to make the decision not just financially, but emotionally. Time spent in resistance performing the task might bring your hourly fee to almost nothing,” said Levey.
3. Keep perfectionism out
-Anna Skaya
For Anna Skaya, Founder and CEO of Basepaws, the first petcare genetics company to put on the market an at-home genetic test for cats, the key to avoiding stress is to keep perfectionism out. According to her, this means understanding that you cannot control every person and situation.
“It’s a daily practice of remembering that the one thing I can control is my reaction to what’s going on and the challenges that come up. It’s about being comfortable with uncertainty, making space for creativity, and allowing things to unfold through iteration,” said Skaya. “You have to let go of hard and fast rules and open yourself up to things turning out in ways that you may not have expected.”
4. Introduce mindful practices to your routine
-Beth Wilson
Beth Wilson, Founder & Chief PR Officer at Wilson Public Relations, stresses the importance of introducing mindful practices in your routine.
“In order to keep overwhelmed at bay, and to ensure I am fully present and my best self when I’m at work, I have become intentional about incorporating mindfulness into my daily routine,”
Wilson suggests doing so through morning meditation, swapping Zoom meetings for calls giving you the chance to have a walk while talking, and practicing sport.
According to this entrepreneur, gratitude is also extremely powerful.
“I believe there is always something to be grateful for or a personal achievement you can feel proud of. If you let that anchor you, it can completely transform your mindset, thereby empowering more mindfulness,” said Wilson.
5. Have a plan B
-Gretchen Salyer
Having a plan B is another fundamental practice that will help you be prepared for all situations and avoid stress. Gretchen Salyer, Founder and CEO of The June Care Company, a service connecting parents in need of childcare with stay-at-home parents, says
“When I first raised Venture Capital for June Care, there was very little friction in the market. (…) Fast forward to mid-2022 and the market has changed dramatically. In a venture-backed business, time is money, so in preparation for a rocky market today and shortly, I needed to craft a few “plan B” scenarios, which ultimately landed with June Care raising additional money from more incredible investors to help us continue to grow our company and weather the economic storm we are now in.”
Final Thoughts
If you’re in the process of launching your own start-up or if you’re trying to grow your business and are currently experiencing high levels of stress, make sure to try out at least one of these suggestions. This will surely help you cope with stress and will not only improve your mental health but also help you achieve success.
